NEW YORK YANKEES NOTES:
AT A GLANCE: The Yankees continue their seven-game road trip tonight with the third game of a four-game set at Texas (1-1 thus far.)…are 2-3 on the road trip after losing two-of-three at Minnesota and splitting the first two games of their current series at Texas… return home on Monday for a three-game homestand vs. Cleveland (Mon.-Wed.).
Are 8-3 following a loss this season.
Have won or split six of their eight completed series this season (going 5-2-1).
Are in a 16-day stretch without an off day (4/18- 5/3)…are 5-6 so far over that span.
YESTERDAY’S NEWS: The Yankees fell to the Rangers, 5-2, in the second game of their four-game set at Globe Life Field on Friday…RHP Clarke Schmidt (L, 5.0IP, 10H, 5ER, 1BB, 8K, 1HR, 1HP) made his sixth start of the season…C Kyle Higashioka (1-for-3, 1RBI) drove in the first run for the Yankees with an RBI single in the fifth inning…DH Willie Calhoun (1-for-3, 1RBI, 1SF) recorded a sac fly in the sixth inning…1B Anthony Rizzo (1-for-2, 1R, 1BB, 1HP) reached base three times…LF Oswaldo Cabrera (1-for-4, 1R, 1 double) and SS Oswald Peraza (1-for-4, 1 double) recorded the only extra-base hits for the Yankees…RHP Jimmy Cordero (2.0IP, 2K) retired all six batters faced…his 2.0 scoreless innings matched his season high…RHP Albert Abreu (1.0IP, 1K) tossed a scoreless eighth inning.
NOBODY BEATS THE RIZZ: INF Anthony Rizzo reached base three times on Friday…is batting .310/.388/.535 (22-for-71) with 10R, 4 doubles, 4HR, 9RBI, 5BB and 4HP in his last 19 games (since 4/9). Has reached base in 22 of his first 26 games this season.
Has recorded a hit in 21-of-26 games this year…his 21 games are tied for the most in the AL and tied for the third-most in the Majors.
Marked the seventh time this season he reached base at least three times in a game…his seven such games are tied for the fourth-most in the AL and tied for the ninth-most in the Majors.
Was hit by a pitch for the 206th time in his career in the sixth inning.
PITCH PERFECT: Despite allowing 5R on Friday, Yankees pitchers have posted a 3.39 ERA this season, the fifth-lowest in the Majors, trailing only Tampa Bay’s 2.80 ERA, Houston’s 3.16 ERA, Milwaukee’s 3.36 ERA and Atlanta’s 3.37 ERA…their 3.59 runs allowed per game are the fourth-fewest in the Majors (Tampa Bay – 2.85, Atlanta – 3.52 and Milwaukee – 3.54).
Have allowed just 97R in 27 games this season, marking their fifth-fewest runs allowed through their first 27 games in a season in the last 42 years since 1982 (75R in 2022, 95R in 2002 and 96R in 2010 and 2021).
Also rank second in the Majors in strikeouts (260), third in opponents’ BA (.217), opponents’ OBP (.294), WHIP (1.15) and K/9.0IP (9.79), and eighth in opponents’ OPS (.668).
LEMACHINE: INF DJ LeMahieu is hitting .333/.346/.500 (8-for-24) with 1R, 1 double, 1HR, 4RBI and 1BB over his last seven games since 4/22.
Is batting .286/.357/.469 (14-for-49) with 7R, 3 doubles, 2HR, 8RBI, 4BB and 2HP in his last 14 games (since 4/11).
Has reached base in 17-of-23 games this season.
Is hitting .368/.409/.474 (7-for-19) with 2 doubles, 8RBI and 2BB with RISP this season.
MATCHING UP: The Yankees are 11-4 in their last 15 games vs. Texas…have won or split six of their last seven completed series vs. the Rangers (going 5-1-1 since 8/9/18).
NEW KID ON THE BLOCK: INF Anthony Volpe has reached base in 14 of his last 15 starts, batting .288/.413/.442 (15-for-52) with 8R, 2 doubles, 2HR, 8RBI, 11BB and 5SB in that span.
Has reached base multiple times in eight of his last 13 starts, posting a .429 OBP in that span.
Is batting .277 (13-for-47) with 7R, 2 doubles, 2HR, 8RBI and 9BB when batting leadoff in the starting lineup.
Is 8-for-8 in stolen base attempts…is one of four players in the Majors to be 8-for-8-or-better in stolen base attempts.
His 8SB are the fourth-most in the AL.
Has 11BB in his last 14 games…his 16BB this season are tied for the ninth-most by a Yankee through his first 27 career games.
WILLIE THE KID: OF Willie Calhoun hit a single in the fourth inning and recorded a sac fly in the sixth on Friday.
Has hit safely in each of his last three games.
Has reached base in each of his last six starts and in eight of his nine starts this season.
Has recorded 1RBI in each of his last two games after collecting just 1RBI in his first eight games this season.
PEN PALS: Yankees relievers have posted a Major League-best 2.40 ERA (101.1IP, 27ER) this season… also rank second in the Majors in opponents’ BA (.197), fourth in opponents’ OPS (.614) and tied for fourth in strikeouts (111).
Have not allowed a hit over their last three games… marks just the second time since 2007 that Yankees relievers have not allowed a hit over a three-game span (also 3G from 6/7-9/17).
Currently own a 10.1 scoreless inning streak (since the seventh inning on Tuesday), the bullpen’s second-longest scoreless streak this season (13.0IP from 4/2-5).
Have not allowed a hit to their last 35 batters faced (since the seventh inning on Tuesday).
GOT YOUR NUMBER: INF DJ LeMahieu has hit .333/.348/.422 (15-for-45) with 1 double, 1HR and 1BB off Texas’ Nathan Eovaldi…INF Anthony Rizzo is
batting .467/.529/.933 (7-for-15) with 4 doubles, 1HR, 1BB and 1HP off Eovaldi…OF Aaron Judge owns a .357/.400/.643 (10-for-28) slash line with 2 doubles, 2HR and 2BB off Eovaldi.
GETTING HIGGY WITH IT: C Kyle Higashioka drove in the first run for the Yankees on Friday with an RBI single in the fifth inning…has hit safely in five of his last six games and has reached base in eight of his 11 games this season.
THE WIZARD OF OZ: INF Oswald Peraza hit a double in the sixth inning on Friday, his first extra-base hit this season…has reached base in 10-of-31 plate appearances this season (4H/3BB/3HP).
GLEYBER DAY: INF Gleyber Torres has reached base in seven of his last eight games…has reach base in 11-of34 plate appearances over that stretch (8H/3BB). Has 17BB in 26 games this season, tied for the fourth-most in the AL and tied for the ninth-most in the Majors…did not record his 17th walk in 2022 until his 69th game of the season on 6/30/22 at Houston.
Is batting .281/.395/.594 (9-for-32) with 8R, 2 doubles, 1 triple, 2HR, 3RBI and 6BB in 10 road games this season.
HIP HIP JOSE: C Jose Trevino set a season high with 3H on Thursday and hit his second home run of the season with a solo HR in the ninth inning…has hit safely in six of his last seven games, batting .308 (8-for-26) with 1R, 2 doubles, 1HR, 4RBI and 1BB in that span (since 4/16).
TONIGHT’S STARTING PITCHER: RHP JHONY BRITO (2-2, 6.11 ERA)
RHP Jhony Brito will make his sixth career Major League start tonight at Texas…the 25-year-old will pitch on regular four days’ rest…took his second loss of the season in his last start on Monday at Minnesota after allowing 3ER over 2.2IP (3H, 3BB, 1K)…marked his fourth start this season with 3H allowed-or-fewer…is the first pitcher in franchise history to allow 3H-or-fewer in four of his first five career starts…is the first pitcher in Yankees history to throw at least 5.0IP, allow 3H-or-fewer and allow 1R-or-fewer in each of his first two career Major League starts…the Yankees are 3-1 in games Brito starts after a loss this season…was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on 3/30 and made his first career Opening Day roster… over parts of five minor league seasons in the Yankees organization (2016-17, ’19, ’21-22), has gone 26-21 with two saves and a 3.71 ERA (392.2IP, 375H, 196R/162ER, 81BB, 344K, 28HR) in 86 career appearances (70 starts)…was signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent on 11/9/15.
LAST TIME OUT: Took his second loss of the season on Monday at Minnesota after allowing 3ER over 2.2IP (3H, 3BB, 1K)…allowed all three earned
runs in the third inning…surrendered a two-run single to Jorge Polanco and an RBI groundout to Byron Buxton…retired six of his first seven batters faced…marked his fourth start this season with 3H-or-fewer allowed…is the first pitcher in franchise history to allow 3H-or-less in four of his first five career starts.
2023: Is 2-2 with a 6.11 ERA (17.2IP, 12ER) and 12K in five starts this season…has allowed 1R-or-fewer in three of his five starts…has allowed 3H-orfewer in four of his five starts…the Yankees are 3-1 in games Brito starts after a loss this season.
Is the first pitcher in franchise history to allow 3H-or-fewer in four of their first five career starts.
Is just the third pitcher in Yankees history to allow 1R-or-fewer in three of his first four career starts, joining Chase Whitley (three such starts in 2014) and Luis Gil (three such starts in 2021).
Is just the seventh pitcher in Yankees history to toss at least 5.0IP and allow 1R-or-fewer in each of his first two career appearances, joining Cliff Markle (first five appearances from 1915-16), Luis Gil (first two in 2021), Orlando Hernández (first two in 1998), Rich Beck (first two in 1965), Jack Quinn (first two in 1909) and Slow Joe Doyle (first two in 1906)…is just the sixth to do so as a starter (Markle made his first career appearance as a reliever).
Is the 15th pitcher in franchise history to win each of his first two career starts and the first since Orlando Hernández in 1998.
Did not record a decision in the Yankees’ 3-2, extra-innings victory vs. Los Angeles-AL on 4/19 (4.1IP, 3H, 1ER, 3BB, 3K)…marked his third start this season with 1R allowed-or-fewer…becoming the third Yankees pitcher in franchise history to record three starts with 1R allowed-or-fewer in their first four career starts (Luis Gil, three such starts in 2021 and Chase Whitley, three such starts in 2014)…marked his third start this season with 3H allowed-or-fewer…becoming just the second Yankees pitcher in franchise history to allow 3H-or-fewer in three of their first four career starts (Luis Gil, three such starts in 2021).
Took his first career loss in the Yankees’ 11-2 defeat on 4/13 vs. Minnesota, allowing 7ER in 0.2IP (6H, 1BB, 0K, 1HR)…marked the shortest outing by a Yankees starter (not including openers) since Jameson Taillon on 6/12/21 at Philadelphia (0.1IP)…were the most runs allowed by a Yankees starter who didn’t make it out of the first inning since Nathan Eovaldi on 6/16/15 at Miami (8R/ER in 0.2IP).
Earned his second career win in the Yankees’ 4-1 victory on 4/8 at Baltimore, allowing just 1ER over 5.0IP (3H, 2BB, 2K)…retired 14 of his final 17BF after surrendering two singles and a sacrifice fly to his first 3BF…became the first pitcher in Yankees history to throw at least 5.0IP, allow 3H-or-fewer and allow 1R-or-fewer in each of his first two career Major League starts (also 5.0IP, 2H, 0R in his Major League debut on 4/2 vs. San Francisco).
HITTIN’ THE ROAD: Will make his third career Major League road start…is 1-1 with a 4.70 ERA (7.2IP, 4ER) in two road starts this season…earned his first career road win in his first road start on 4/8 at Baltimore (5.0IP, 3H, 1ER, 2BB, 2K)…in 13 road games (11 starts) with Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2022, went 5-3 with a 4.10 ERA (52.2IP, 24ER) and 48K.
BIG LEAGUE BRITO: Made his Major League debut on 4/2 vs. San Francisco, tossing 5.0 scoreless innings (2H, 1BB, 6K) to earn his first career win… is the first Yankees starting pitcher in franchise history to toss at least 5.0 scoreless innings, allow 2H-or-fewer and allow 1BB-or-fewer in his Major League debut…struck out his first batter faced (LaMonte Wade Jr. swinging) for his first Major League strikeout.
Was just the 12th Yankees pitcher in franchise history (and fifth since 1935) to toss at least 5.0 scoreless innings in his Major League debut, joining Luis Gil (6.0IP on 8/3/21 vs. Baltimore), Jonathan Loáisiga (5.0IP on 6/15/18 vs. Tampa Bay), Sam Militello (7.0IP on 8/9/92 s. Boston), Hank Borowy (5.0IP on 4/18/42 vs. Boston), Vito Tamulis (9.0IP on 9/25/34 at Philadelphia-AL), Russ Van Atta (9.0IP on 4/25/33 at Washington-AL), Neal Brady (5.2IP on 9/25/1915-G1 vs. Cleveland), Pete Wilson (9.0IP on 9/15/1908 at Boston), Tacks Neuer (9.0IP on 8/28/1907-G2 vs. Boston), Slow Joe Doyle (9.0IP on 8/25/1906-G1 vs. Cleveland) and Barney Wolfe (5.0IP on 4/24/1903 at Washington-AL)…among the group, joins Luis Gil (6.0IP, 1BB), Hank Borowy (5.0IP, 1BB) Vito Tamulis (9.0IP, 1BB) and Barney Wolfe (5.0IP, 0BB) as the only five to issue 1BB-or-fewer.
Is the ninth Yankees starting pitcher to toss at least 5.0 scoreless innings in his Major League debut and just the fourth since 1935.
Became the seventh Yankees pitcher to start against a National League opponent in his Major League debut, joining RHP Deivi García (8/30/20-G2 vs. New York-NL: ND, 6.0IP, 1R/0ER), RHP Chad Green (5/16/16 at Arizona: L, 4.0IP, 6R/4ER), RHP Chase Whitley (5/15/14 at New York-NL: ND, 4.2IP, 0ER), RHP Tyler Clippard (5/20/07 at New York-NL: W, 6.0IP, 1ER), LHP Brad Halsey (6/19/04 at Los Angeles-NL: W, 5.2IP, 2ER) and LHP Brandon Claussen (6/28/03-G2 at New York-NL: W, 6.1IP, 1ER).
Became the seventh Yankee to draw a start at the current Yankee Stadium in his Major League debut, joining RHP Luis Gil (8/3/21), RHP Deivi García (8/30/20-G2), RHP Jonathan Loáisiga (6/15/18), LHP Jordan Montgomery (4/12/17), RHP Luis Severino (8/5/15) and RHP Adam Warren (6/29/12)…was the third starter to also record the win, joining Gil and Loáisiga.
At 25 years, 44 days old, became the seventh starter age 25-or-over to make his Major League debut for the Yankees since 1999, joining RHP Chien-Ming Wang (25y, 30d), RHP Masahiro Tanaka (25y, 154d), Christian Parker (25y, 277d), Alex Graman (26y, 155d), Matt DeSalvo (26y, 238d) and Kei Igawa (27y, 268d).
TEXAS RANGERS NOTES:
WINS AND LOSSES: Texas best the Yankees last night, 5-2, and have gone 1-1 on this 6-game homestand vs. NYY (1-1 + 2 G) and ARI (2 G)…last night’s win snapped season-worst 4-G losing skid that was the club’s longest drought since a 0-7 span from 9/28-10/4/22…have dropped 5 of last 8 G, but are still 7-5 in last 12 G and 11-7 in last 18 G beg. 4/9…Rangers still have the 5th-best record in the A.L. at 15-11 (.577), trailing TB (22-5, .815), BAL (17-8, .680), TOR (17-9, .654), and MIN (16-11, .594)…club’s 15 wins are T5th-most in the A.L…have a 12-11 record last 23 G since club’s 3-0 start to the season.
• Team currently sits 4 games above .500…Texas has been .500-or-better following every game in 2023…high-water mark for the season was 7-over after win on Sun. vs. OAK (14-7), which was the 1st time TEX had been 7-over since 7/13/19 (50-43)…the current 15-11 record is still the best 26-G start for the Rangers since 2016 (also 15-11), and matches best start for TEX since a 15-11 start in 2014…TEX recorded its 15th win in 2022 on May 16. • TEX has 15 wins with 2 G remaining in April…it is already Rangers’ highest win total by end of April since 2014 (15), and only higher figures reached were 18 (1998), 17 (2013, 2012, 1989), and 16 (2011, 1996).
STANDINGS: The Rangers are once again in sole possession of 1st place in the A.L. West after entering yesterday tied with HOU for the division lead…TEX has been alone in 1st place in 13 of the last 14 days (beg. 4/14) …TEX has lost 1.5 games in the division during current 1-4 span…have had sole possession of 1st place in the West for 19 days overall in 2023…reached a season-best 3.5-game lead in the West with off day on 4/20, which was team’s largest lead in the West since the end of the 2016 campaign (won division by 9.0 games)…TEX has been alone or tied atop the division for 29 of the season’s first 30 days (lone exception: 4/8)… from 2017-22, the Rangers had one day in which it held, or was tied for, 1st place in the West (1-0 on 7/24/20, tied for division lead).
SERIES STUFF: The 0-3 finish in Cincinnati marked Rangers’ 1st winless series in ‘23 (last 0-3, 9/30-10/2/22 at LAA)… TEX is 5-3-0 overall in series this year, going 3-1-0 at home 2-2-0 on the road…prior to the series loss at CIN, Rangers had won 4 straight series from 4/10-23, just 2nd time since the start of 2021 to win 4 in a row since going 5-0-0 from 6/15-7/1/18…team has gone undefeated in 2 series: 3-0, 3/30-4/2 vs. PHI; and 3-0, 4/17-19 at KC…the latter marked Rangers’ 1st undefeated road series of 3+ games since 9/5- 8/19 at BAL (4-0).
AT HOME: The Rangers are 9-5 (.643) at home to begin the year, this after starts of 5-9 in at GLF the past 2 years (2022 and 2021)…the .643 home win pct. is T5th-best in MLB (14- 2, .875-TB; 8-2, .800-TOR; 9-4, .692-BAL/PIT, 9-5, .643-MIN/ TEX)…Rangers’ 9th home win in 2022 did not come until May 17…Rangers have a 95-111 all-time record at Globe Life Field (2020-23), but are 15-12 last 27 G here (beg. 9/11/22).
• Texas has scored 90 runs in 14 games at Globe Life Field this season, as club’s 6.43 R/G average at home is highest among the 30 MLB teams…the Rangers have batted .271/.341/.462/.802 (127-468) in Arlington this season, entering today with MLB’s 4th-highest team OPS at home (.860- TB, .847-LAA, .817-STL, .802-TEX).
VS. NEW YORK-AL: TEX and NYY will meet for 2 series in 2023 (1-1 + 2 G this weekend at GLF, 3 G from 6/23-25 at NYY)…TEX was 3-4 vs. NYY in 2022 and team is 0-3-2 in season series beginning 2017 (DNP in 2020), with last season series victory coming in 2016 (4-3)…with last night’s win, Rangers have won 3 of last 4 vs. NYY, but are still 4-11 in last 15 G and 11-20 in last 31 G (beg. 9/9/17)…TEX has a 4-6 record in 10 G vs. NYY at GLF…NYY lead all-time, 280-209, but teams are tied 121-121 in Arlington.
BIG GAME BOB: Robbie Grossman went 3-for-4 with a 2-run home run and 2 doubles last night…3 extra-base hits matched his career high done one other time (3 2B on 5/31/16 at OAK w/ MIN), and were the 2nd-most by a Ranger in 2023 (5-Adolis García on 4/22 vs. OAK)…season-high 3 hits extended his current 9-G hitting streak, the longest active run among TEX batters, over which he has slashed .375/.432/.625/1.057 (12-32) with 2 HR, 2 2B, 8 RBI, and 9 R.
WE GON’ RUN IT UP: Texas has outscored its opponents 161-104 (+57) this season, and enter today’s slate with MLB’s 2nd-highest run differential to only Tampa Bay (+97)… it marks the 2nd-highest run differential through the first 26 G of a season in Senators/Rangers history (beg. 1961) behind only a +59 mark to open the 1998 campaign.
HIGH VELOCITY: Per Statcast, Adolis García registered a career-high 115.1-mph exit velocity last night on his 3rd-inning single off Clarke Schmidt…it was the highest exit velo. produced by a Texas batter since a 115.1-mph lineout by Joey Gallo on 5/18/21 vs. NYY (off Chad Green).
• García’s average exit velocity in 2023 (92.7 mph) is the highest among Texas batters, ranks 13th among A.L. qualifiers, and would be the highest single-season output of his career (prev. 92.1 in 2022).
MAKE ‘EM COUNT: Including Robbie Grossman’s 2-run home run in the 3rd inning last night, 21 of the Rangers’ 33 HR this season have come with men on base…Texas is tied for the Major League lead in HR of 2+ runs (also LAA and LAD)…the Rangers hit a total of 7 HR with men on base in April of 2022 and did not hit their 21st HR with men on that year until June 5.
ON ROTATION: Texas starting pitchers have gone 5-1 with a 2.84 ERA (23 ER/73.0 IP) over the team’s last 14 G (beg. 4/14)…that span has lowered the rotation’s season ERA from 4.74 to 3.71, 4th-lowest among A.L. clubs (3.02-TB, 3.38- HOU, 3.41-MIN)…Rangers starters have posted 7 quality starts over that span, including a run of 6 straight QS that was snapped with deGrom’s scoreless 3.2-inn. outing last night.
GREAT DANE: Dane Dunning protected an early Texas lead with 3.1 solid innings of relief in last night’s win (3 H, 2 R-ER, 0 BB, 1 SO)…the right-hander has gone 2-0, 1.77 ERA (4 ER/20.1 IP) in 8 G in ‘23 (all in relief), ranking among ML relief leaders in innings (1st) and wins (T3rd)…his 4 relief app. of 3.0+ IP are tied for the MLB lead (also TB’s Josh Fleming).
PLAY THE HITS, MARCUS: Marcus Semien has reached base safely via hit or walk in 14 straight games (beg. 4/14), the longest on-base streak by a Ranger this season…Semien has batted .288 (30-104) with 5 HR, 6 2B, and 23 RBI over 26 G in 2023, becoming the 1st Texas batter to record 30-ormore hits before the end of April since Elvis Andrus (39) and Shin-Soo Choo (34) both accomplished the feat in 2019.
RISPY BUSINESS: Texas leads all MLB clubs with a .346 BA (80-231) with runners in scoring position this season, sitting well ahead of 2nd place Tampa Bay (.312)…conversely, TEX pitchers have allowed the 4th-lowest opp. BA with RISP in MLB (.221), trailing only TB (.192), NYY (.196), and ATL (.220)…TEX, TB, and PIT (.303 BA, .221 opp. BA) are the only clubs that rank among MLB’s top 5 in both categories.
SHORTS: The Rangers have gone undefeated (6-0) in Jacob deGrom’s 6 outings this season, the 1st time in Washington/ Texas franchise history that the club has gone unbeaten in a pitcher’s first 6 starts with the club…Nathan Eovaldi posted a career-high 14 wins as a member of the Yankees in 2015, his 1st of 2 seasons with the Bombers (2015-16)…Jonah Heim’s 9 extra-base hits as a catcher this season (4 HR, 5 2B) are
T2nd-most among MLB backstops (13-ATL’s Sean Murphy).
TONIGHT’S STARTING PITCHER – #17 Nathan Eovaldi, RHP
(2-2, 5.20)
TONIGHT: The 33-year-old right-hander (pronounced ee-VAHL-dee) is scheduled to make his 6th start/appearance of the season tonight in the 3rd bout of this 4-G set…has 5.0+ IP in all 5 starts, allowing 3-R-or-less in 3 of 5 outings…has made 2 straight quality starts (1-0, 5 ER/12.0 IP) to drop season ERA from 6.32 to 5.20…his 2.21 FIP is 7th-lowest in MLB and stands just under 3 runs lower than his ERA figure…ranks among A.L. qualifiers in SO/BB (7th, 6.20), HR/9 (7th, 0.33), BB/9 (10th, 1.63), and SO/9 (12th, 10.08)…former Yankee (2015-16) has gone 3-4, 3.83 ERA (37 ER/87.0 IP) over 18 G/15 GS in his career vs. NYY…will work on regular 4 days’ rest after posting quality start in Texas’ 7-6 loss on Mon. at CIN (see below)…tonight’s start will be his 3rd at home this season (last 4/12 vs. KC), as each of last 2 outings have come away from Arlington…Eovaldi signed a 2-year free agent contract with the Rangers on 12/27/22…in 2022, his final season with Boston, went 6-3 with a 3.87 ERA (47 ER/109.1 IP) over 20 G/GS… ranked among A.L. leaders (min. 100.0 IP) in SO/BB (8th, 5.15) and BB/9 (9th, 1.65)…was slowed by a pair of IL stints: 6/9-7/14 (low back inflammation) and 8/19-9/28 (right shoulder inflammation)…the Texas native is seeking a return to his 2021 form, when he was an All-Star with the Red Sox and finished 4th in A.L.
Cy Young Award voting…his Red Sox stint included a historic postseason stretch during the team’s 2018 World Series run, as he appeared in 3 of club’s 5 games during that year’s Fall Classic…has 241 games/222 starts with LAD (2011-12), MIA (2012-14), NYY (2015-16), TB (2018), BOS (2018-22) and TEX (2023)… joined Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan as the only graduates of Alvin (TX) High School to reach the Major Leagues…Texas is 2-3 in Eovaldi’s 5 starts this season.
LAST START: Did not factor into the decision of Rangers’ walk-off 7-6 defeat on Mon. at CIN despite posting his 2nd quality start in as many outings (6.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R-3 ER, 1 BB, 7 SO, 89 pitches/57 strikes)…held Cincy scoreless over last 3.0 innings after allowing 3 runs in the 3rd on a 2-run triple (Steer) and RBI groundout (Stephenson)…exited in line for the win, as Texas held a 6-4 lead entering the 7th inning, but was removed from the decision after the Rangers’ bullpen surrendered 3 unanswered runs in the 8th (2) and 9th (1).
PUNCH OUT: Has struck out 31 of 118 (26.3%) batters faced in 2023, as his 10.08 strikeouts per 9.0 innings figure ranks 12th among A.L. qualifiers…would be the highest SO/9 mark of his career (prev. 9.68 in 2020 w/ BOS)…also ranks among A.L. leaders in SO/BB (7th, 6.20), HR/9 (7th, 0.33), and BB/9 (10th, 1.63)…has issued just 5 walks through 5 starts this season, joining Jacob deGrom (43 SO/3 BB thru 5 GS in 2023) as the only pitchers in WSH/TEX franchise history with 30+ SO and 5-or-fewer BB in their first 5 outings of a campaign.
A PINSTRIPE PAST: Former Yankee (2015-16) has gone 3-4 with a 3.83 ERA
(37 ER/87.0 IP) over 18 games/15 starts in his career against the Bombers… has spent 7 of his 12 MLB seasons pitching for A.L. East clubs (2015-16 w/ NYY, 2018 w/ TB, 2018-22 w/ BOS), as his 15 career starts vs. NYY are his T2nd-most against any one club (18-BAL, 15-ATL/NYY)…during his time in Boston, saw action in 17 G/14 GS against the rival Yanks, going 3-3, 3.52 ERA (30 ER/76.2) w/ 70 SO/15 BB in the 14 starts…is also 2-0, 1.46 ERA (2 ER/12.1 IP) in 2 career postseason games/starts vs. New York-AL: 2018 ALDS-G3 at NYY w/ BOS (W, 7.0 IP, 1 R-ER) and 2021 ALWC vs. NYY w/ BOS (W, 5.1 IP, 1 R-ER).
• Went 23-11 with a 4.45 ERA (138 ER/279.0 IP) in 51 G/48 GS in 2 seasons with the Yankees (2015-16)…posted career-high 14 wins in 2015, as his 14-3 (.824) record that year was the highest among qualified A.L. pitchers.
AT HOME / IN ARLINGTON: Has seen significantly better results this season in 3 road starts (1-1, 3.57 ERA) than in 2 starts at Globe Life Field (1-1, 8.10 ERA)… tonight’s start will be his 1st in home since 4/12 vs. KC (L, 5.0 IP, 6 R-ER), as each of last 2 outings have come away from Arlington.
• The Texas native is 3-1 with a 3.91 (10 ER/23.0 IP) in 4 career games/starts in Arlington (3-Globe Life Field, 1-Choctaw Stadium)…earned wins in each of his first 3 GS here, including 2023 debut on 4/1 vs. PHI (5.0 IP, 3 R-ER)…just the 5th native Texan ever to earn a win in his TEX debut (last Kip Wells on 8/2/06 at MIN). 2023: Opponents have batted .306/.339/.477/.816 (34-111) with 13 extra-base hits (HR, 4 3B, 8 2B), incl. opp. BA of .291 (16-55) vs. LHB and .321 (18-56) vs. RHB…batters are 7-for-11 w/ 3 XBH when putting 1st pitch into play, also 5-for-13 (.385) with a 0-2 count…has 31 strikeouts/5 walks, as he ranks among A.L. qualifiers in SO/BB (7th, 6.20), HR/9 (7th, 0.33), BB/9 (10th, 1.63), and SO/9 (12th, 10.08)…current SO/9 figure would be the highest of his career, surpassing prev. high of 9.68 in 2020 w/ BOS…recorded season-high 18 swing-and-miss strikes (Statcast) on 4/12 vs. KC (L, 5.0 IP, 10 H, 6 R-ER)…run support has been high (6+ R 3x) and low (one-or-zero R 2x)…made Rangers debut in 16-3 Texas victory on 4/1 vs. PHI (W, 5.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R-ER)…became 1st Rangers starting pitcher to be awarded a win in his first start with the club since A.J. Alexy on 8/3/21 vs. COL…the Alvin, TX native became the 5th native Texan ever to earn a win in his TEX debut (last Kip Wells on 8/2/06 at MIN).
